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Aerial video along the Swannanoa River reveals the wrath of Tropical Storm HeleneAerial video along the Swannanoa River between Black Mountain and Asheville reveals the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene.Buncombe County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a 3.26-cent property tax increase to offset revenue shortfalls in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.The budget prioritizes essential services, including $122 million for education, though still short requests from Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools.ASHEVILLE – Described as a “break-even budget” focused on essential government services and recovery in the...

'This is a total dog and pony show. This is not anything that’s credible,' DeSantis said.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the House's late-session push for property tax cuts as ineffective.House Speaker Daniel Perez prefers sales tax cuts and formed a 37-member committee to explore property tax cut options, a move DeSantis called a "dog and pony show."The House’s push for property tax cuts will be ineffective,...

Rising property taxes over the past five years have exacerbated American homeowners' housing affordability struggles, with many reporting that they are now paying much more than they initially budgeted for them.According to a new survey by property tax appeal service Ownwell, 66 percent of homeowners in the U.S. say their bill is higher than they budgeted for, while three in four (74 percent) are worried about paying even more in the near future.Why It MattersBetween 2019 and 2024, property tax bills have gone up in nearly every U.S. metropolitan area,...

'The governor has not yet come forward with any specific answers,' House Speaker Perez said. 'If the House wanted to get this done, they would have,' a DeSantis spokesman shot back.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced a select committee to review property tax cut proposals.The move follows disagreements with Governor DeSantis on property tax cuts and other issues.The committee will consider various options, including raising homestead...

Watch: Indiana public school teachers rally at Indiana StatehouseShaina Terano, a teacher at Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township, discusses what her students could lose with SB 1, the proposed property tax reform bill.Indiana's SEA 1 will provide property tax relief to homeowners and businesses, with businesses receiving the largest cuts.Local governments can offset property tax revenue by increasing income taxes. That could mean some families pay over $1,000 more per year on income taxes.Cities across Indiana are evaluating the impact of SB 1 and considering measures like hiring freezes...

Ty Tagami  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceHow do billionaires avoid paying taxes? Here's what we know now.The super wealthy can afford to avoid paying taxes, but how? Here's what we know now.Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment to curb property tax increases by tying them to inflation.Most cities and counties adopted the amendment, but the majority of school districts, which receive the largest share of property taxes, opted out.A new law gives local governments until the end of April to reconsider, but school districts face challenges due to rising education...

Joshua Fechter and Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune  |  Wichita Falls Times Record NewsProperty tax cuts aren’t free. In fact, they’re costing Texas a fortune.The Texas House is considering a budget that would shell out $51 billion — 15% of the state's total two-year spending plan — to maintain and provide new property tax cuts. That number, more than the state allocates to transportation or higher education, is making even some Republicans nervous about the state’s ability to afford the tax relief if there’s an economic downturn.If it were its...

DeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and supports open carryDeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and other restrictions on Second Amendment RightsFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a plan to eliminate the state's portion of property taxes for homeowners.DeSantis argues that tourists and non-residents should bear a larger share of the tax burden.The Florida Legislature is currently in session and must reach an agreement on the state budget before adjourning on May 2.Could Florida property taxes be a thing of the past soon? Gov. Ron DeSantis thinks so.At...

The movement to drastically cut and even eliminate property taxes, which local governments heavily rely on to fund crucial public services, is gaining momentum in Republican-led states across the country.Four states—including Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Pennsylvania—currently have plans to eliminate property taxes entirely. Others—including Texas and Montana—are trying to significantly reduce them.In Florida, Republican Senator Jonathan Martin introduced Senate Bill 852 after Governor Ron DeSantis expressed on X earlier this year his support for eliminating property taxes entirely."I agree that taxing land/property is the more oppressive and ineffective form of...